CVE-2023-0384 in Server
Summary
by MITRE • 04/20/2023
User-controlled operations could have allowed Denial of Service in M-Files Server before 23.4.12528.1
due to uncontrolled memory consumption for a scheduled job.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0384 represents a critical denial of service weakness in M-Files Server versions prior to 23.4.12528.1. This flaw stems from inadequate memory management within the scheduled job processing mechanism, creating an exploitable condition where malicious actors could manipulate system resources to cause service disruption. The vulnerability specifically affects the server's handling of user-controlled operations that initiate scheduled tasks, allowing for uncontrolled memory consumption patterns that ultimately lead to system instability and potential complete service unavailability.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper validation and resource allocation mechanisms within the M-Files Server's job scheduling subsystem. When users submit operations that trigger scheduled jobs, the system fails to implement adequate memory limits or monitoring controls to prevent excessive consumption of system resources. This uncontrolled memory growth occurs during the execution of scheduled tasks, where the server allocates memory without sufficient bounds checking or resource exhaustion detection. The flaw operates through a combination of user input manipulation and internal processing logic that does not adequately account for the potential for memory exhaustion attacks, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users have access to job scheduling functionality.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-0384 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader system reliability and availability concerns. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can cause sustained denial of service conditions by submitting specially crafted operations that trigger memory-hungry scheduled jobs, potentially leading to complete system crashes or requiring manual intervention to restore service. This vulnerability affects the core functionality of M-Files Server operations, impacting document management workflows and potentially causing business disruption. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where M-Files Server serves as a critical component for document management and collaboration systems, as the denial of service can cascade to affect multiple dependent applications and services.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-400, which specifically addresses uncontrolled resource consumption, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service. The weakness demonstrates poor input validation and resource management practices that violate fundamental security principles. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to M-Files Server version 23.4.12528.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the memory consumption controls. Additionally, implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual memory consumption patterns during scheduled job execution can provide early warning capabilities. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit the ability of unauthorized users to submit operations that could trigger these vulnerable conditions, while regular security assessments should verify that scheduled job processing mechanisms properly enforce resource limits and prevent uncontrolled memory allocation patterns.
The vulnerability underscores the importance of implementing robust resource management controls in enterprise document management systems. Proper input validation, memory allocation limits, and monitoring mechanisms are essential to prevent similar issues in other software components. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security reviews of their scheduled job processing mechanisms to identify and remediate similar resource consumption vulnerabilities. The incident highlights the need for continuous security testing and patch management programs that ensure timely deployment of security fixes to protect against known vulnerabilities in critical business applications.